Axle-lubricator.



No. 635,571. l Patented (m24, |899.

- H. n. Mo'lsE.

AXLE LUBBICATUR.

(Application tiled July 27, 1899.) (No Model.)

/A/ VENTO@ W/TNESSES I iii? A TTOHNE YS,

UNITED STATES PATENT EEicE.

HARMON D. MOISE, OF SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO AROHIE CHINA, OF SAME PLACE.

AXLE-LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFIATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,571, dated October 24, 189i).

Application filed July 27,1899- Serial No'. 725,309. (No model.)

' T0 @ZZ whom t may concert/1,.

B e it known that I, HARMON D. MofsE, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Sumter, in the county of Sumter and State of South Oarolin a, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Axle Lubricators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in axles, and particularly in means whereby to lu bricate the same, and relates especially to the means for supplying the lubricant to the wick or absorbent strip lying in the channel or groove formed in the spindle of the axle.

The invention has for an object to provide a simple novel construction whereby to utilize capillary attraction in feeding the oil from the reservoir to the strip lying along the spindle.

The invention consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is avertical longitudinal section of an axle and spindle embodying my invention, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a cross-section on about line 2 2 of Fig. l, and FigQS illustrates a construction in which the reservoir for. the oil is separate from the axle and is secured thereto by the devices which will be presently described.

The axle A is provided at its outer end with the spindle B, at the inner end of which spindle may be formed the sand-guard C, as shown. In the upper side of the spindle I form the groove or channel D for the absorbent strip or wick K. This channel D extends lengthwise of the spindle and at its inner end nearly to the sand-guard O, before described. The axle A is provided at the inf ner side of the sand-guard C with an enlargement upon its upper side to form the reservoir E for the lubricant. At its inner end the enlargement forming the reservoir has a square shoulder at E', while the outer end of the enlargement is curved downwardly at E2, conforming in shape to that usually given the outer end of the wooden axle cap or bolster ordinarily secured on vehicle-axles. In the present instance the wooden cap or bolsterF abuts at its outer end against the inner square end of the reservoir E, and the outer clip G embraces the adjacent ends of the reservoir and the cap-bar F and tends to brace such parts rmly in position.'

In forming the oil recess or cavity in the E, near its outer curved end, an opening I-I' 65 for the filling-cap H. This opening Hl permits the operation of a drill by which the hole or passage I may be formed, which leads diagonally downward and outwardand intersects at I the hole I2, which extends longi- 7c tudinally inward from the inner end of the channel D, formed in the upper side of the spindle B. The hole I opens into the oil-reservoir immediately upon an upwardly-facing seat or shoulder J, which lies directly below the filling-cap H, and the wick K, which may be a separate wick or, if desired, a continuation of the absorbent strip lying within the channelpD, extends over the shoulder J in position to be compressed by the filling-cap 8o H when the latter isv turned inward to close the opening I-I. By this means the wick can be compressed to any desired degree to regulate the feed of the oil'. In order to permit this regulation of pressure and yet permit the cap H to be screwed home at all times, I prefer to provide said cap at its inner end with an adjustable presser portion I-I2 in the form of a plug which canbe screwed into the capte any desired degree to regulate the 9o pressure upon the wick. This will be under-v stood from Fig. l, from which it is manifest the plug H2 may be set as shown in said figure, Where it exerts little or no pressure upon the wick K, or said plug may be adjusted down to exert any desired-degree of pressure upon the wick in order to regulate the iiow of oil as may be desired. The wick K is thus directed into the oil from a point above the level of the oil, so the latter will only be fed roo outward by the wick by capillary attraction, thereby avoiding any waste of oil in the op- When this 6o eration of the device. It will also be noticed that the reservoir does not forni any unsightly projection upon the axle, but conforms generally to the appearance of the outer end of the wooden cap or axle section, as Will be readily understood from Figs. l and 2 of the drawings.

While it is preferred to form the reservoir integral with the axle, as shown inA Figs. l and 2, it may be desirable in some instances to construct such reservoir separately and apply it to the axle, as shown in Fig. 3. In the construction shown in such figure the reservoir L conforms in external shape to the usual form of the outer end of the wooden cap or bolster of the axle. Near its outer end the reservoir L has an openingL' extending outwardly from a shoulder L2 and arranged in register with a threaded opening M in the axle, which opening M communicates with a hole M', leading from the groove or channel in the spindle. A tube N is shouldered at N to abut a washer placed against the shoulder L2 and is provided with a small extension or nipple N2, which threads into the openin g M. This tube N operates to direct the Wick to an elevated position within the oil-reservoir and also serves as a means for securing the outer end of the removable reservoir to the axle. For convenience in inserting the tube N, I provide the opening for the filling-cap in line with the opening M and also provide the pressure-plug in the inner end of such cap, which operates against the inner end of the tube N, which thus forms a seat for the wick, against which the regulating-pressure of the plug may be exerted.

A clip O may be provided for securing the reservoir in place at its inner end, its outer end being secured by the tube N, as before described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. An axle provided with a spindle having the longitudinal groove or channel for the absorbent wick or strip and having upon the axle at the inner end" of the spindle an integral upwardlyproje`cting portion forming the oil-reservoir, the inner end of such reservoir being squared and an opening being formed from such end providing the oil-cavity, means for closing the inner end of the reservoir, an opening being provided in the upper side of the reservoir near its outer end for the llingcap and a hole being extended from a point in line with such opening diagonally downward and outward and communicating with a hole leading from the Wick-channel in the spindle, and the filling-cap substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the axle having an oil-reservoir, a Wick-channel leading therefrom, and a bearing for the Wick at the inner end of said channel, and the filling-cap having at its inner end an adjustable portion arranged for pressure against the said Wickbearing whereby it may be operated to compress the wick whereby to regulate the feed of the lubricant, substantially as set forth.

3. An axle havin. g its spindle provided with a Wick-channel and provided upon its upper side at the inner end of said spindle with an integral oil-reservoir having within it a shoulder or bearing J, provided above said shoulder with an opening for the lling-cap and also with a passage I leading to or establishing communication with the channel in the spindle, and the filling-cap fitted in its opening above the shoulder J, substantially as set forth.

4. An axle having its spindle provided with a longitudinal groove or channel and provided at the inner end of said spindle with a reservoir having a cover provided with a feedopening and cap and provided Within said reservoir opposite said opening With a shoulder or bearing for the oil-feeding wick, and the wick, substantially as set forth.

HARMON D. MOSE.

Witnesses:

SoLoN C. KEMON, PERRY B. TURPIN. 

